Office of the President and Chancellor

Ken Starr

“With its great tradition in the Christian world and its growing international reputation as a research university that continues to care deeply about undergraduate education, Baylor is poised to have an increasingly expanding global impact.”

Ken Starr's Messages

WASHINGTON (July 22, 2015) – A bipartisan group of national thought leaders, including Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr, has called upon Congress to take action now to develop a national strategy addressing the tragic global crisis in religious freedom.

Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr praised the work and motivations of Baylor’s Board of Regents and the “rich and mutually supportive relationship” shared between Baylor’s administration and board in this op-ed published Sunday, July 12, 2015. “The many contributions of Baylor’s volunteer regent board — which now includes regents representing faculty, students and alumni — to Baylor’s remarkable recent success cannot be overstated. With their time, talent and treasure, the energetic alumni and generous donors who constitute our board of regents are skillfully guiding the university with integrity and distinction. The members of Baylor’s volunteer board merit our heartfelt thanks, as they continue their work to ensure that the light emanating from our cherished university will, by God’s grace, shine ever more brightly into the future.”

Judge Ken Starr: It is with a heavy heart that I write to you concerning the tragic death of Mr. Jeffrey Thaemert, an electrician and resident of our beloved Waco, who died yesterday morning working on the construction of our new business school building.

WACO, Texas (July 24, 2015) – At its annual summer meeting, Baylor University’s Board of Regents approved $26 million to renovate the Hankamer Cashion Complex and celebrated the announcement of a historic $10 million gift that will catapult the stature of the department of communication sciences and disorders.

WASHINGTON (July 22, 2015) – A bipartisan group of national thought leaders, including Baylor University President and Chancellor Ken Starr, has called upon Congress to take action now to develop a national strategy addressing the tragic global crisis in religious freedom.

WACO, Texas (July 22, 2015) – Baylor University today announced a gift of $10 million to the department of communication sciences and disorders that will transform its students’ educational experience, expand its service to those with speech-language needs in Texas and position the department for national impact as a leader in the field of speech language pathology.

Ken Starr in the News

July 24, 2015
The "tragic, global crisis in religious persecution, violence, and terrorism" requires America to greatly strengthen its strategies, a letter to top congressional leaders declares, signed by a diverse group of religious, academic and public policy figures, including Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr. The signers endorse H.R. 1150, named the "Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2015" for the retired Virginia congressman and longtime champion of global religious freedom. Wolf now serves as The Jerry and Susie Wilson Chair in Religious Freedom at Baylor.

July 22, 2015
Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr is among a bipartisan group of more than 30 religious leaders, scholars and public policy analysts who have joined a call for a national strategy addressing “international religious persecution that threatens people of faith worldwide.” The letter, delivered July 16 to House and Senate leaders, urges Congress to give greater authority to the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

July 24, 2015
Article on action taken by Baylor’s Board of Regents last week, including approving a $26 million renovation of the original Hankamer School of Business to house other growing programs and setting tuition and fees for 2016-2017. “The board remains very sensitive to access and affordability while maintaining the distinctiveness and high quality of a Baylor education. Our Regents are committed to reducing tuition increases, growing our endowment and doing everything they can to limit the financial burden on families and students who wish to pursue a Baylor degree,” said Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr.

July 26, 2015
The Chronicle of Higher Education named Baylor University a great place to work for the fifth straight year. Baylor also received the “elite honor roll” status in the publications survey of 281 colleges and universities. No other university in the poll’s eight-year history has earned that distinction more than Baylor. “Baylor’s mission states clearly the priority we attach to the caring nature of our community,” Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr said. “That commitment is reflected in a deep respect for shared governance; appreciation and support for work-family balance; a spirit of generosity in our daily work together; and a firm belief in the value and significance of the contribution of every Baylor colleague. These abiding attributes continue to make Baylor a ‘great college to work for.’ ”

Op-Eds from Ken Starr

Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr praised the work and motivations of Baylor’s Board of Regents and the “rich and mutually supportive relationship” shared between Baylor’s administration and board in this op-ed published Sunday, July 12, 2015. “The many contributions of Baylor’s volunteer regent board — which now includes regents representing faculty, students and alumni — to Baylor’s remarkable recent success cannot be overstated. With their time, talent and treasure, the energetic alumni and generous donors who constitute our board of regents are skillfully guiding the university with integrity and distinction. The members of Baylor’s volunteer board merit our heartfelt thanks, as they continue their work to ensure that the light emanating from our cherished university will, by God’s grace, shine ever more brightly into the future.”

Thanksgiving is not only a time of feasting, in the spirit of the Pilgrims, of Samoset, Squanto, Massasoit and the Wampanoag tribe. It is a sweet time of families coming together, pausing to give thanks.

In this opinion piece, Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr lauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Hobby Lobby case on Monday as a “powerful blow for religious liberty” — one that also is good for Texas and business. (Lori Fogleman, assistant vice president for Baylor Media Communications, helped place this op-ed.)